GROVE CITY - Before the first practice, before the first free throw shooting drill and long before the first live action, Dustin Vanhook had no idea where his place was in the pecking order on the Grove City High School boys basketball team.

"To be honest with you, I was looking forward to starting for the (junior varsity) team and getting as many minutes on varsity as I could," the 6-foot-1 junior said.

But it didn't take long for Eagles' coach Don Fee to find a place for Vanhook in his deep rotation. Before long, Vanhook was a member of the starting five, in charge of neutralizing the opponent's top scoring threat.

That was his role, and Fee has shown throughout his 15-year coaching career a unique ability to size up a player and fit him into a scheme.

"Coach puts me in there and puts me on the other team's best player," Vanhook said. "Any points I score is a bonus. Honestly, I had no idea what I would accomplish this year."

When Vanhook looks at the box score, the first set of numbers he scans is those of the player he was guarding, not his own.

It typifies the unselfish nature the Eagles have adopted this season.

"To have only three seniors and the inexperience of the players we had coming back, we're real happy," Fee said. "They put the time in and their attitude has really been unselfish. They've played as a team and it has really been a good experience."

There were a lot of unknowns surrounding Grove City at the start of the season, but like in season's past, it hasn't stopped the Eagles from being successful.

Grove City is 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the restructured District 10 after losing its leading scorer from a season ago, Mike Johnson, one of its main ball handlers, Kevin Persch, and a slew of role players.

That's nothing new for Fee, who reloads instead of rebuilds every season.

It's happened to him before - players have graduated and left seemingly gaping holes. The key has been the ability to fill in those holes quickly with players like Vanhook who are ready to step in and contribute.

"We play nine or 10 kids, and they are all doing the little things that don't show up in the box score," Fee said.

The coach credited his feeder system for producing ready-to-play contributors. He also said every player in his program gets considerable playing time as they come up through the ranks to hone their skills even more.

Vanhook was one of them. Early on, it was apparent he would fit into the defensive stopper role.

"Success builds success," Fee said.

And there are others.

Fee's oldest son, John, is a scrappy player who has shown the ability to hit clutch shots in pressure situations. So have Dan Keil, Ben Liebling, Justin McNamara and Andy Geibel.

"They do the dirty work," Don Fee said. "We have some guys who are interchangeable."

The Eagles do have some players who would be hard to replace. Junior Ryan King leads the Eagles with 16.4 points a game and is a dangerous weapon inside or outside.

Jordan Fee, only a sophomore, is the point guard and the second-leading scorer on the Eagles. And there is also senior Ben Husband, who has become a reliable third scoring option in the offense.

"Every team has to have its go-to guys," Don Fee said. "Jordan and King - we expect an awful lot out of them. Jordan is only a sophomore and Ryan a junior, so sometimes I get upset with them. But they're learning."

Still, Grove City is about as balanced as they come.

The Eagles' motion offense has a lot to do with that and so does the mentality of the team.

"It's definitely been a smooth transition," King said. "I was a little worried at the start of the season, but it has definitely worked out well.

"The whole offense runs through Jordan and he runs it smoothly, John Fee hits some big shots at big times - everyone knows their roles."

They have also found many different ways to win.

Against Oil City, the Eagles hit just nine shots from the floor, but were 34-of-42 from the free throw line in a 53-44 victory. Over a two game stretch, Grove City was 56-of-69 from the line - both wins.

Don Fee has always preached scoring balance.

"It just blows my mind to see guys in the WPIAL averaging 29, 28, 27 points per game," Fee said. "I don't think I've ever had anyone average more than 17 or 18 points per game, and I've had some good ones."

The players don't seem to mind, either, as long as the Ws keep piling up.

Grove City has lost just two games at home in the last two seasons and are a sure bet to advance to the District 10 playoffs once again.

"My dad does a good job putting guys in different roles," John Fee said. "And the guys are good at being unselfish and understanding their roles and getting the job done."